New York October 21-25 Accommodations Advice
 

4 people (ages 15, 22, 43 and 47), all female, traveling to New York for a long weekend October 21st.-25th. We'd like to see a few Broadway shows, Central Park, Russian Tea Room, the Today Show, Little Italy, Chinatown, Ground Zero and what else? I'm looking for suggestions regarding accommodations (which areas of the city). We're looking for clean, and reasonably priced. Is it unrealistic to find something $200-$350/night? Open to all other ideas you all might have to make our trip a great one.

>> Is it unrealistic to find something $200-$350/night?<<

Do you mean $200-$350 per (double) room, or total for all 4 of you?

yes, that is what the others in my group are hoping, however I think it's unrealistic for a clean, decent place. Accurate?

The least expensive rooms on Hotwire (4 people in one room) for your dates are about $300-$400, which usually means that going directly through a regular booking site or the hotel itself will be even higher (on average). It's an expensive time in the city (but usually beatufiul). For example, in another thread where someone needed a room for 5 people, it was recommended (and they ultimately did reserve at) they try the Courtyard Midtown East because of the larger than usual rooms. The hotel for their weekend was in the $300 range. I just checked it and its $569 a night for your dates.

Is your price range for 4 people in one room?

Booking.com allows you to search for a room for 4. I think such a room will be toward the top of your range, but there was recently a great discussion here of family rooms and some wonderful suggestions at good prices. I think the thread had Thanksgiving in the title, but I searched for it and didn't find it.

I would hate 4 women in one bathroom, but that may not bother you.

Hope someone comes up with that thread that covered a family trip to NYC at Thanksgiving, or try your own search.

I just booked a room at the Refinery for a low price (they have some sort of weekend promotion) and a suite at The Kimberley for about your upper price, which might fit 4. The Refinery deal came in an email, and I found The Kimberley deal on Booking.com. I've stayed at both so would recommend them. Both my bookings, though, were for two people.

Certainly the Park in October is great, but why not a museum or shopping while in the area? Is there one museum or iconic store that calls to your group?

Little Italy and Chinatown won't require much time unless you are big souvenir and knock-off browsers, and you can do them on the same day you visit The World Trade Center Memorial

http://www.911memorial.org/

Since you are having a downtown day, I would put some other things on my list to discuss with your group:

Staten Island Ferry to go past the Statue of Liberty

possibly Wall St to see the Bull and historic sites nearby

maybe West Village/Washington Square Park, walk through a mews and buy chocolates at Kees

maybe the Tenement Museum if any of you have an immigrant/New York family history. I put the caveat on there because I was fascinated and moved, but went with a friend whose family had no connection to European/Asian immigration and tenement life, and she was bored.

I think I might skip The Russian Tea Room based on prices alone, but I really haven't been there so can't tell you if it is fabulous or faded. Maybe someone else can.

is this the thread?

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...anksgiving.cfm

For 4 people at that time of year (and assume you can share 2 double beds) your top budget will be a stretch but there may be something available. But do realize that this is a very expensive time of year.

The Newton, a reliable budget property on the upper west side, is showing a queen double room for $339 per night plus tax - so over your $350. It's right on 94th St - so on top of the 96th St subway - giving easy access to all parts of the city.

This is a mid/upscale residential area - although broadway is busy - with a ton of inexpensive/moderate restaurants of ever possible ethnicity and only a couple of blocks from central park. But they are only showing that one option so I'm assuming all other room types are taken. A couple of other budget places I looked at are already fully booked.

Definitely reserve something cancelable NOW and then continue to look - or you may find everything at a decent price is already gone.

Id certainly add museums (MOMA, Met, Frick etc) but I get that's not for everyone.

In terms of neighborhoods for the hotel you might be best to come up with some options and then get feedback on the advantages and disadvantages of each. Prices in NY are extremely elastic so it's always difficult to recommend a particular hotel. We go frequently and often end up staying in different places because each time a different hotel is offering a better deal. Have a look at booking.com as suggested above and let us know what might be feasible.

One thing to make sure is that you're looking at rates INCLUDing taxes which run to around 20% in NYC.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll have a fab time.

PS I'd add a fun rooftop bar with a fabulous view, a place like the Refinery bar, the Strand or the Roof at the Viceroy could be fun for a girls weekend.

The Travel Inn on 42nd comes in at your top end for a double double.